India’s final international white-ball assignment ahead of the T20 World Cup starts on Sunday, 18 July, in Colombo with a three-match ODI against Sri Lanka. The 50-over games will be followed by a three-match T20I series. The six matches will be considered an audition for a group of uncapped and out-of-favour cricketers, desperate to impress the selectors and secure a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
It has been four years since India were in Sri Lanka for a bilateral ODI series. Back in 2017, when India toured last, they clean swept the series 5-0. Unlike that tour, however, this time India are travelling with a near-second string side.
Considering the recent turmoil (both on and off the field) in the Sri Lankan camp, however, India will start the series as clear favourites even without their superstars. Sri Lanka will have plenty to prove against this ‘weak’ Indian side.
Recently, senior Sri Lankan professionals like Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella faced disciplinary issues in England. They were sent home midway through the tour after being accused of breaching the bio-bubble.
Two other members of the team management tested positive upon their return from the tour. As precautionary measure, this series against India was postponed. Another senior player, Angelo Mathews, made himself unavailable for selection due to his dissatisfaction surrounding the central contract.
Overall, in these coming games, new captain Dasun Shanaka and his boys need to pull up something extraordinary in order to get back some of the lost reputation of Sri Lanka cricket.
However, one thing is assured. Any significant performance against India will be noticed by the cricketing fraternity. That should act as a driving force for the Sri Lankans: a decent series against the Indians might fetch them a few offers from the IPL franchises.
There are as many as 10 uncapped cricketers in the 20-man Indian squad. Shikhar Dhawan, in his maiden assignment as national captain, will face a selection conundrum. However, for the 50-over games, India are likely to go ahead with their capped players.
With the injured Kusal Perera unavailable, Minod Bhanuka is the lone wicketkeeper in the squad. In the middle-order, left-hand batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa is likely to come in, whereas in their bowling department, there will have an army of slow bowlers of different varieties, as usual.
This is likely to be the usual Premadasa surface with plenty of runs on offer. Considering the Colombo humidity, run-scoring will be much easier under lights, in the second half of the match.
The local meteorological department has predicted scattered thunderstorms during the game. So, we might have multiple rain-breaks and a curtailed match.
Head to head
India have won 91 matches against Sri Lanka and lost 56.
Betway Fantasy Tips
- Shikhar Dhawan boasts terrific record against Sri Lanka. He has amassed 983 runs at an astounding average of 70.21 in 16 matches. He, along with Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav, should easily walk into the fantasy XI.
- Sri Lanka have a lone wicket-keeper in Minod Bhanuka, who will be making his international debut today. So, Ishan Kishan is a safe bet to have.
- Wanindu Hasaranga is in rich vein of form, and apart from picking wickets, he is quite handy with the bat as well. He should be one of the choices for an all-rounders.
Likely XIs:
India: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan
Perdition
India to register a comfortable victory in a rain-affected clash.